9 Clever Ways To Use Quinoa In The Kitchen

Quinoa has become a pretty hot superfood, and it can be far more than the base of a grain bowl or side dish. You can lean on this baby to make everything from pancakes to soups to quesadillas to brownies. Here are nine clever ways you can use quinoa in the kitchen.

1. Quinoa-Packed Pancakes

To boost the protein count in your breakfast, add some cooked quinoa to your pancakes. Here’s a recipe that calls for cooked quinoa, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, honey and sea salt. You could also try some fluffy vegan pancakes, which use maple syrup as a natural sweetener along with coconut flour and flaxseed.

2. Quinoa Muffins

Muffins can sometimes be empty calories, so why not add a little extra substance to the batch with some nutrient-dense quinoa? Go for a dozen carrot quinoa muffins or quinoa banana muffins. The quinoa banana muffins use whole wheat flour instead of white all-purpose flour. When you go to grab a quinoa muffin for breakfast, you can actually feel like you’re starting your day off on a healthy (or healthier) note.

3. Quinoa Breakfast Scramble

For a breakfast packed with protein, add some quinoa to your breakfast scramble. Once your eggs go into the pan with some vegetables, let the dish sit for a few minutes and then mix in some cooked quinoa. Here’s a recipe for a spinach quinoa scramble with Parmesan sprinkled on top.

4. Crispy Vegetable And Cheese Quinoa Bites

Who says you can’t snack on quinoa like you would any other cheesy snack? It’s easy to make bite-sized quinoa treats with cheddar and any chopped veggies you have lying around. Here’s a recipe for cheesy veggie quinoa bites that’ll satisfy your cravings for something comforting.

5. Quinoa Soup

When you want to make a quick chicken soup but you don’t have any chicken, use some quinoa instead. Mushroom quinoa soup is a hearty fix with onions, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs, mushrooms, vegetable broth and quinoa. It’s perfect for a chilly winter night.

6. Quesadillas With Quinoa

Yeah, that’s right. Add some quinoa to your cheesy quesadillas. You can mix it right in with the rest of the ingredients. Here’s an easy recipe for cheesy quinoa quesadillas with all of the fresh veggies, jalapeño, salsa verde and cheese. You won’t even know the quinoa is in there as you get a hefty dose of protein.

7. Quinoa Risotto

Risotto is one of those dishes that takes a little lovin’. You can’t really walk away in the middle or else it might burn, but the good thing is that quinoa risotto is way easier to make than the traditional version. This quinoa risotto with mushrooms and thyme is pretty straightforward. It’s also way lighter than risotto that’s made with rice.

8. Brownies With Quinoa

Don’t forget, quinoa can be used for desserts just as much as savory recipes. These quinoa brownies are chewy on the outside and rich and gooey at the center. The recipe uses ingredients like coconut sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil and almond milk to achieve the perfect level of sweetness.

9. Quinoa Chocolate Cake

For that health-conscious friend of yours whose birthday is coming up, make a chocolate quinoa cake. This one only takes a half hour to bake and it’s frosted with a whipped chocolate coconut cream icing. Just try talking yourself out of chocolate cake when there’s protein in it. We dare you.